Detroit linebacker Stephen Tulloch mocks Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow with a "Tebowing" pose after he sacked Tebow during the first quarter. <a href="http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2011/10/photos-broncos-vs-lions-sunday-october-30-2011/23348/"><b>More photos from the Broncos vs. Lions game Sunday.</b></a>

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow during the third quarter of a blowout loss to the Lions. <a href="http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2011/10/photos-broncos-vs-lions-sunday-october-30-2011/23348/"><b>More photos from the Broncos vs. Lions game Sunday.</b></a>

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is upended by Detroit's Louis Delmas during the third quarter. <a href="http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2011/10/photos-broncos-vs-lions-sunday-october-30-2011/23348/"><b>More photos from the Broncos vs. Lions game Sunday.</b></a>

Tim Tebow walks off the field Sunday after a Denver turnover in the fourth quarter. Tebow struggled against Detroit, one week after a heroic comeback in Miami.

Maybe, it’s not the worst thing that Tim Tebow endured such a humiliating afternoon.

Even if the Broncos quarterback and national celebrity has been genuinely humble through the glorification he never sought, and strong amid the criticism he stiff-arms, there were signs TebowMania was spreading perilously out of control.

For all the fun and yucks associated with the “Tebowing” prayer pose last week, wasn’t there some concern the tribute was also tempting fate?

At least two Detroit players mocked “Tebowing” during the Lions’ 45-10 destruction of the Broncos on an otherwise spectacular autumn Sunday afternoon at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

“You can be as competitive and have as much heart as possible, but if you don’t have the talent for this league, it’s hard to play,” said Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. “It’s hard to play, period. Not saying you can’t, but you’ve got to work for it. He works. He’s going to get better.”

There were many other numbers as ugly as the final score. Tebow and the Broncos’ offense:

• Had eight possessions of three plays or fewer.

• Were 0-for-10 on third downs before Detroit’s defense allowed a couple of meaningless conversions during the fourth quarter.

• Took two delay-of-game penalties.

• Allowed seven sacks, one that resulted in a fumble returned 24 yards by Lions defensive end Cliff Averil for a touchdown.

Early in the fourth quarter, Tebow was an unsightly 8-of-25 passing for 87 yards and an interception that was returned 100 yards for a touchdown by Lions cornerback Chris Houston.

“It’s too early to say,” coach John Fox said when asked if Tebow would remain Denver’s starting quarterback. “I haven’t even had a shower yet, let alone looked at that tape. But we’ll look at it and make changes where we see they are needed. We’ve definitely got to get better.”

A team source said Sunday night there have been no discussions about a quarterback change. No decisions are made until after the coaches review the game tape this morning.

Still, if the Tebow Train has not derailed after his second start this season, and fifth of his NFL career, the brakes are screeching.

This doesn’t mean a gallows judgment should be issued on Tebow’s ability to become a successful NFL quarterback. Every mama in the world has told their sons there would be days like this. But at the very least, the embarrassing performance Sunday offers for discussion whether “Tebowing” went a bit too far.

Today, Tebow’s critics are beaming. From the time he was finishing up his career at Florida, NFL analysts who were former coaches, quarterbacks and players said his long throwing delivery would be a problem. Sunday, Detroit pass rushers twice swatted the ball out of his hand as he was cocking w-a-a-a-y back to throw. On one, Avril blew past rookie right tackle Orlando Franklin, knocked the ball loose as Tebow reared to throw and returned the fumble for a touchdown.

On another Tebow sack, Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch celebrated by falling into the prayerful “Tebowing” pose.

“It was no disrespect to Tebow,” Tulloch said. “I was able to get him and had a little fun with it and decided to do some Tebowing. I saw it on websites, saw it on ‘SportsCenter’ and I said: ‘You know what? I’m going to try it out.’ “

But mocking “Tebowing” is the very definition of disrespect, isn’t it?

“No, not all,” Tulloch said. “I wasn’t praying. I was just having fun with it.”

Later, former Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler half-mocked the “Tebowing” endemic after catching a 1-yard touchdown pass to give the Lions a 17-3 lead late in the first half, then thought better of it and finished off his end zone celebration by flashing the Mile High Salute.

The Roar has been restored in Detroit. Some air was let out of TebowMania in Denver.

If you must hit bottom before you can appreciate the ride to the top, then this game put Tebow halfway there. Tebow wasn’t nearly as wild as he was for 3 1/2 quarters last week in Miami, but a missed target is a missed target.

By halftime, the Lions with Matthew Stafford had outpassed Tebow and the Broncos 182 yards to 17.

“It’s very disappointing,” Tebow said. “It hadn’t happened many times, but this is going to test us and our character.”

Stafford was excellent. His playing status was questionable because of a badly twisted right ankle he suffered at the end of the Lions’ loss to Atlanta last week. Stafford moved well, though, and threw even better.

“He wouldn’t have played if he was that bad,” Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers said. “He looked good to me. I think his ankle was blown out of proportion. I don’t know. They have a good team.”

Stafford threw touchdown passes of 41 yards to Titus Young, who was open from here to LoDo after it appeared Broncos safety Brian Dawkins blew a coverage, the short toss to Scheffler, and a 56-yard catch-and-run play in the third quarter to Calvin Johnson, the NFL’s top scoring machine who beat Bailey on the play.

The Lions are 6-2 with a proven franchise quarterback. The Broncos are 2-5 with serious questions about their quarterback.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

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